Ah, is this not happiness..

One thing that helped me immensely the last couple of months is a very simple thing that has therapeutic value and takes little time and effort to do: Discover and write down those little moments in life that make you feel happy. I slowly started to learn that every day has (hidden) happiness in it. Is it not something that happened that day, it may be a memory of the past that brings a smile to your face. Whenever I have a bad day, I start to read them back and it lifts my mood.

Find your personal happy moments and post them here. Benefit from them yourself and let others here benefit from them, as reading other people's happy moments is catching and inspiring.

(Plum, this one's for you... )


From: A New Earth (Ekhart Tolle)

Many poets and sages throughout the ages have observed that true
happiness – I call it the joy of Being – is found in simple, seemingly
unremarkable things. Most people, in their restless search for something
significant to happen to them, continuously miss the insignificant, which
may not be insignificant at all. The philosopher Nietzsche, in a rare moment
of deep stillness, wrote, “For happiness, how little suffices for happiness!....
the least ting precisely, the gentlest thing, the lightest thing, a lizard's
rustling, a breath, a wisk, an eye glance – little maketh up the best happiness.
Be still.”


Why is it the “least thing” that makes up “the best happiness”?
Because true happiness is not caused by the thing or event, although this is
how it first appears. The thing or event is so subtle, so unobtrusive, that it
takes up only a small part of your consciousness – and the rest is inner space,
consciousness itself unobstructed by form. Inner space consciousness and
who you are in your essence are one and the same. In other words, the form
of little things leaves room for inner space. And it is from inner space, the
unconditioned consciousness itself, that true happiness, the joy of Being,
emanates. To be aware of little, quiet things, however, you need to be quiet
inside. A high degree of alertness is required. Be still. Look. Listen. Be
present.

 

You walk along the beach and observe a German Shepherd in a futile attempt to catch a Greyhound at full speed.

ah, is this not happiness...


Watching you nephew and nieces look intensely for shells along the sea shore under a clear blue sky.

ah, is this not happiness...

 

Gigalos.

V.timely.

Yesterday in my mad, obsessive TMS online
searching I welcomed upon these wonderful words...

may I be free from suffering
may I experience joy & ease

You have given me an entry into how I might
experience joy in small incremental amounts.

Pete

 

I love this thread!

Happiness is watching a wobbly toddler waltzing around the room and humming to the music in her mind with her baby doll!

 

I was walking my dogs yesterday and noticed that the sun had just barely finished setting. As a result it had just barely begun to get dark outside. I realized that I love that moment in the day, and was reminded of playing outside until dark when I was a kid. I felt grateful for being present enough in the moment to even be aware of that.

 

You apply the wisdom "The least you can get is a no" and end up with more than you could have ever hoped for.

ah, is this not happiness..

 

I'm a huge fan of "celebrating the small stuff." After all, I've suffered with chronic illness quite a bit. If I hadn't celebrated the small things, I never would have celebrated anything.
In the throes of my worst pain these last 2 years, I started a gratitude journal. It was a rare day that I didn't come upon something that brought me joy. But I also believe that joy comes to those who are most receptive.

 

I love this idea! I could use some cheering up.

Seeing young people walk in clumps across the sunny city plaza.
ah, is this not happiness...

 

ah, is this not happiness

 

No repressed emotions there....

 

To trypp: "Ribbit!" (in english, great observation)

You and your colleagues impersonate meerkats during lunch, absorbing the energy that is generated by a gentle spring sun.

 

Love this!

The smell of freshly baked chocolate chip banana bread...ah, is this not happiness.

 

...or for that matter, everything about freshly baked chocolate chip banana bread...

 

There is just something so wonderful about the warm springtime sun... Even though it may still be a bit cool outside, it's so reassuring to feel it on your skin. Freshly baked chocolate chip banana bread aint half bad, either.

Smoothing fresh sheets, still warm from the dryer, over your bed (still wrinkled, as I'm not one to iron...)
ahh, is this not happiness...

 

That first (almost) end of spring, beginning of summer day, when sitting outside in the shade is just as lovely as sitting in the sun....

Ah, is this not happiness!

 

big orange tabby cat stretched out full length on his back, sound asleep and snoring away....ah to feel that safe and content

 

Spending the whole day at the beach and not at work...ah is this not happiness

 

you lucky @#$% .......

 

Gigalos, may life shower you with love.

(For those who don't know, the origins of this wonderful idea can be found here: http://idler.co.uk/ah-is-this-not-happiness/).

The blossoming of joy, how readily everyone embraces the tender simplicity of life.

Ah, is this not happiness.

 

Huge red poppies the size of tea cups opening just outside my window.
A punnet of sun warmed strawberries on the kitchen table.
A hot, hot shower with the radio on.
Ah, is this not happiness....